Northvolt to sell assets of former California LMB centre to Lyten

US lithium-sulfur batteries developer Lyten has agreed to acquire the lithium-metal battery (LMB) manufacturing facility and cell-making equipment of Swedish battery manufacturer Northvolt’s former LMB centre in San Leandro, California, that was operated by its former subsidiary Cuberg.

The sale follows Northvolt’s decision from earlier this year to shift the development of its LMB technology from California to its research and development (R&D) campus in Sweden, a move resulting in nearly 200 job cuts.

Lyten said in a statement on Wednesday that it plans to convert the facility to lithium-sulfur and expand capacity to enable up to 200 MWh of lithium-sulfur battery production in the Bay Area at full capacity.

The transaction encompasses Cuberg’s lease of a 119,000-square-foot (11,055 sq m) facility located close to Lyten's San Jose headquarters. The site includes manufacturing, office and warehouse space, in addition to battery cell development and manufacturing equipment.

Lyten noted in the statement that it will invest up to USD 20 million (EUR 18.8m) in 2025 as part of an ongoing plan to expand the San Leandro and San Jose facilities.

Lyten commercialises next-generation lithium-sulfur batteries for use in the transportation, aerospace, space, consumer electronics and energy storage markets. Its other business segments include sensors and composites.

Last month, the company announced plans to build a gigafactory in Nevada capable of manufacturing up to 10 GWh of batteries annually.

(USD 1 = EUR 0.941)

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